Jo Cox tributes: 'More united than divided'

The Labour politician who was killed in Birstall, West Yorkshire, last Thursday was described as a “daughter of Yorkshire”, a “comet lighting up the dark” and praised for saving the lives of an untold number of Syrian refugees.

Mrs Cox’s phrase “we are far more united than the things that divide us” was used over again by her Parliamentary colleagues as they reflected on her politics of tolerance and the all too brief time in which she was able to put this into action.

This quote from her maiden speech will be the guiding mantra politicians cling to as they vow to “combat hatred”, a tearful Rachel Reeves MP said.

Like many MPs she was wearing purple to symbolise the suffragette movement, a colour scheme which had also been used at Mrs Cox’s wedding, and a white rose to represent Yorkshire, which every single member of Parliament had pinned to their suit jacket lapel or dress.

In the public gallery her two tiny children Cuillin and Lejla were sat with their father Brendan, both sets of grandparents and Jo’s sister Kim. Family members cradled the two youngsters at all times. Sometimes the youngsters looked down on to MPs in fascination, and at others they sat blissfully occupied with colouring and story books.

How they will remember this day in years to come is hard to fathom but every tribute ended with heads turned skywards towards Jo’s family to speak to them directly.

A rare standing ovation erupted at the end of the session and this rapturous applause ended with tiny Cuillin and his father sitting on the edge of the gallery, waving down to MPs who knew the family.

Paula Sherriff, Labour MP for Dewsbury, gave the pair a wave and smile as she made her way out of the chamber, before sinking her head onto the shoulder of a colleague in sadness.

Close friend and Labour MP Stephen Kinnock, who shared an office in Parliament with Mrs Cox was the only person who used his tribute to make an overtly political point.

He said she would have despised UKIP’s campaigning posters which showed refugees walking through Eastern Europe with the slogan “breaking point”.

“She would have responded with outrage and with a robust rejection of the calculated narrative of cynicism, division and despair that it represents. Because Jo understood that rhetoric has consequences.

“When insecurity, fear and anger are used to light a fuse, then an explosion is inevitable.”

Halifax MP Holly Lynch said: “She was a daughter of Yorkshire and she fought tirelessly for those who had put their faith in her.”

MPs then walked over the road to St Margaret’s Church for a service led by The Reverend Rose Hudson-Wilkin, chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons, and the Archbishop of Canterury, Justin Welby. In fine voice the traditional Irish hymn Be thou my vision was sung so loudly by the hundreds of mourners that it could be heard ringing out across the Palace of Westminster.